HARLEM 2020: Sean John Fall 2008

By Sonya Magett, BlackVoices.com

It's been almost ten years since the Man Formerly Known As Diddy launched the Sean John clothing line, and five since his last runway show, so the anticipation for his Fall 2008 show presented last Friday was quite befitting.

Combs stands to again even more recognition after delivering a collection that paid homage to those designers who paved the way for him: Icons Willi Smith, Patrick Kelly, Byron Lars, Stephen Burrows, Karl Kani, Patrick Robinson and Tracy Reese were all acknowledged. "I celebate the path they carved or me, this couldn't have happened without them" said Combs. Nice.

Sean John Fall 2008

Tracy Reese Fall 2008

  • Tracy Reese Fall 2008

    Bobbi Thomas and Designer Tracy Reese attend the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 Tracy Reese front row and backstage at The Promenade, Bryant Park on February 3, 2007 in New York City..Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Tracy Reese - Front Row and Backstage.The Promenade, Bryant Park.New York, NY United States.February 3, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15419730), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

  • Tracy Reese Fall 2008

    Bobbi Thomas and Designer Tracy Reese attend the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 Tracy Reese front row and backstage at The Promenade, Bryant Park on February 3, 2007 in New York City..Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Tracy Reese - Front Row and Backstage.The Promenade, Bryant Park.New York, NY United States.February 3, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15419729), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

  • Tracy Reese Fall 2008

    Lee Daniels and guest attend the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 Tracy Reese front row and backstage at The Promenade, Bryant Park on February 3, 2007 in New York City..Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Tracy Reese - Front Row and Backstage.The Promenade, Bryant Park.New York, NY United States.February 3, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15419728), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

  • Tracy Reese Fall 2008

    The Three Graces attend the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 Tracy Reese front row and backstage at The Promenade, Bryant Park on February 3, 2007 in New York City..Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Tracy Reese - Front Row and Backstage.The Promenade, Bryant Park.New York, NY United States.February 3, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15419727), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

  • Tracy Reese Fall 2008

    Miss USA Rachel Smith attends the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 Tracy Reese front row and backstage at The Promenade, Bryant Park on February 3, 2007 in New York City..Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Tracy Reese - Front Row and Backstage.The Promenade, Bryant Park.New York, NY United States.February 3, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15419726), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

  • Tracy Reese Fall 2008

    Photographer Nigel Barker attends the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 Tracy Reese front row and backstage at The Promenade, Bryant Park on February 3, 2007 in New York City..Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Tracy Reese - Front Row and Backstage.The Promenade, Bryant Park.New York, NY United States.February 3, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15419725), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

  • Tracy Reese Fall 2008

    Damien Fahey attends the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 Tracy Reese front row and backstage at The Promenade, Bryant Park on February 3, 2007 in New York City..Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Tracy Reese - Front Row and Backstage.The Promenade, Bryant Park.New York, NY United States.February 3, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15419724), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

  • Tracy Reese Fall 2008

    Levin Rambin attends the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 Tracy Reese front row and backstage at The Promenade, Bryant Park on February 3, 2007 in New York City..Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Tracy Reese - Front Row and Backstage.The Promenade, Bryant Park.New York, NY United States.February 3, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15419723), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

  • Tracy Reese Fall 2008

    Levin Rambin attends the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 Tracy Reese front row and backstage at The Promenade, Bryant Park on February 3, 2007 in New York City..Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Tracy Reese - Front Row and Backstage.The Promenade, Bryant Park.New York, NY United States.February 3, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15419722), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

  • Tracy Reese Fall 2008

    Levin Rambin attends the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 Tracy Reese front row and backstage at The Promenade, Bryant Park on February 3, 2007 in New York City..Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 - Tracy Reese - Front Row and Backstage.The Promenade, Bryant Park.New York, NY United States.February 3, 2008.Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com..To license this image (15419721), contact WireImage.com

    WireImage.com

Baby Phat Fall 2008

  • Baby Phat Fall 2008

    Singer Joss Stone attends Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons Fall 2008 collection, during New York Fashion Week, February 1, 2008. REUTERS/Marko Georgiev (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

  • Baby Phat Fall 2008

    A model displays a creation from the Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons Fall 2008 collection, during New York Fashion Week, February 1, 2008. REUTERS/Marko Georgiev (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

  • Baby Phat Fall 2008

    Models display creations from the Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons Fall 2008 collection, during the New York Fashion Week, February 1, 2008. REUTERS/Marko Georgiev (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

  • Baby Phat Fall 2008

    Models display creations from the Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons Fall 2008 collection, during the New York Fashion Week, February 1, 2008. REUTERS/Marko Georgiev (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

  • Baby Phat Fall 2008

    A model displays a creation from the Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons Fall 2008 collection, during New York Fashion Week, February 1, 2008. REUTERS/Marko Georgiev (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

  • Baby Phat Fall 2008

    A model displays a creation from the Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons Fall 2008 collection, during the New York Fashion Week, February 1, 2008. REUTERS/Marko Georgiev (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

  • Baby Phat Fall 2008

    Models display creations from the Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons Fall 2008 collection, during the New York Fashion Week, February 1, 2008. REUTERS/Marko Georgiev (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

  • Baby Phat Fall 2008

    Models display creations from the Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons Fall 2008 collection, during the New York Fashion Week, February 1, 2008. REUTERS/Marko Georgiev (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

  • Baby Phat Fall 2008

    Models display creations from the Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons Fall 2008 collection, during New York Fashion Week, February 1, 2008. REUTERS/Marko Georgiev (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

  • Baby Phat Fall 2008

    Models display a creation from the Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons Fall 2008 collection, during the New York Fashion Week, February 1, 2008. REUTERS/Marko Georgiev (UNITED STATES)

    Reuters

"I wanted to tell the story of a young king who matures into a great ruler. I can't wait for the crowd's reaction...people should expect the unexpected," said Combs in the press release before the show.

And how brilliant of him to also have former model/model agent Bethann Hardison (who reps Tyson Beckford, who closed the Sean John show as the last model) as casting consultant not long after her bi-annual conference that addresed the lack of Black models on the runway!?

We have to give it to him, he didn't talk about it, he did the damn thing with all black models in the show.

As for the collection itself, there were many cropped jackets reminiscent of those worn by the hotel bellboy except these versions were luxe in leather, sharkskin and wool paired with slim, fitted trousers. There was certainly a strong European influence. It was quite a departure for the traditional Sean John customer.

The Sean John regular however need not fret, there were many high style offerings for him: fur-trims, sweaters with fur fronts, 3/4 coats in grey, eggplant suede and other rich, dark tones is where the strength lied in the lineup.

Combs later told us his muse is "a young king in Harlem in the year 2020 who is so swagged out, you can find him jumping out of a droptop Maybach. I've evolved aesthetically as a designer, so it's about fine tailoring, a closer fit to the body was very important."

Call it urban luxury remixed.

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